Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 ANALYSIS 
10

Bishops Scorn Obama, but Pope Is a Fan

The Vatican takes softer stance on Notre Dame debate

Share

(Newser) – While conservative Catholics rage over President Obama's upcoming commencement speech at Notre Dame, one man has remained silent: the Holy Father. Indeed, American Catholic leaders and the Pope have staked out dramatically different positions from the Obama administration's, Amy Sullivan observes in Time. Yet the Vatican’s response to the pro-choice president has verged on approval.

The Vatican, which often sidesteps political controversies, has “displayed a surprising optimism, bordering on enthusiasm" about Obama, Sullivan writes. Given Obama’s support among Catholics, the Pope may be wary of alienating him. Not so for outspoken new convert Newt Gingrich, who “may find it's awkward to try to be more Catholic than the Pope.”

Pope Benedict XVI visits the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Pope Benedict XVI visits the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem.   (AP Photo/Daniel Bar-On, Pool)
Pope Benedict XVI gestures during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.
Pope Benedict XVI gestures during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.   (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
President Obama is broadly popular among American Catholics, 67% of whom gave him a positive approval rating in a recent Pew poll.
President Obama is broadly popular among American Catholics, 67% of whom gave him a positive approval rating in a recent Pew poll.   (AP Photo/Steve Pope)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The starkly different responses of some US bishops and the Vatican could just be a matter of pure politics. The Pope would hardly be the only head of state eager to start off on the right footing with the new Administration.
- Amy Sullivan, Time

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
10 comments
VIEWING:
 
DarkFrancis
May 16, 09 3:57 PM CDT
"I'm outraged!" yelped the Catholic bishop as he mopped his brow & zipped up his fly. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Caps
May 16, 09 4:16 PM CDT
Newt Gringrich, trying to be more catholic than the Pope? Newt is nothing more than a low life, trying to fake his way. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
MarkFL
May 16, 09 4:50 PM CDT
More Catholic than the POPE? You'll have to wait and see what it means to be Catholic today. Despite no shortage of decrees and fatwas from the church, you won't find a more diverse group of believers. This pretty much tells us that no one cares at all about what the Pope says... except for the media apparently. Wake up Christians! Even the Pope is afraid to speak up for fear of alienating members. That should tell you that you are in the process of being duped! Even the most dogmatic of religions looks nothing like it did only a few decades ago. If you are a Catholic, you are being bamboozled and scammed! There is no God, no trinity, no virgin birth, and no reason to follow the pointy hat. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
Rob
May 17, 09 7:49 PM CDT
Smell the coffee. 25% of the planet is Roman Catholic.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
justme
May 16, 09 8:25 PM CDT
Hey MarkFL, Seems like someone is angry. Obviously an atheist which is ok with me as long as I'm allowed to believe what I like without scorn from you. Remember, this country was founded with freedom of religion (not freedom from religion, as some would have it) as a basic tenet. By the way, the founding fathers didn't really care about who offended whom as long as everyone (At the time, meaning white males) had the same rights. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+4

View all 10 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

148 Stories

Obama, Dems Catch Flak From MSNBC

Left-leaning networks not afraid to hammer prez for moving right

Nov 16, 09 8:48 AM CST
(Newser) - Forget Fox News, Barack Obama is catching just as much grief from MSNBC, as the network’s liberal hosts hammer Democrats for drifting right. Rachel Maddow, for example, spent most of last week lambasting House Democrats over the anti-abortion Stupak amendment, calling it an “electoral defeat,” and contemplating... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • abortion • MSNBC • Keith Olbermann • health care reform • Rachel Maddow • left wing • Stupak-Pitts

 Anglican Deal May Lead 
 to Married Priests 

Vatican's gesture
cracks door to
ending celibacy

Oct 22, 09 4:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Vatican's attempts to heal the centuries-old rift with the Anglican Church may have a consequence nobody intended: an end to celibacy for priests. By offering a new Anglican rite under the umbrella of Catholicism, Pope Benedict XVI has invited married Anglican clergy into the fold—and cracked open... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Anglican Church • Vatican • Orthodox Christianity • priest • Catholic priest

 Catholic Church Welcomes 
 Disgruntled Anglicans 

Extends a hand to those unhappy with gay bishops, ordained women

Oct 20, 09 8:42 AM CDT
(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI has created a new church structure for Anglicans who want to join the Catholic Church, responding to the disillusionment of some Anglicans over the ordination of women and the election of openly gay bishops. The new provision will allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while maintaining... More »

MORE ABOUT:
gay rights • Pope Benedict XVI • gay marriage • Catholic Church • Anglican Church • interfaith dialogue • orthodoxy • Roman Catholic Church

148 Stories


Obama invite a 'slap in the face'
Fox News

'Father Oprah', Obama occupy Catholics
Washington Post

Controversy shows all politics is personal for Catholics
Chicago Tribune


Politics  •  Arts & Living 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
Barack Obama • abortion • Pope Benedict XVI • Vatican • Notre Dame • bishop • Roman Catholic Church

from our news partners